An illustrated chronicle of some of England's least known and finest houses all built between 1240 and the early seventeenth century. It includes photographs of both exteriors and interiors, revealing details of plasterwork, stone carving and panelling. He covers a variety of styles from all over the country - courtyard houses, such as Cotehele in Cornwall, timber framed manors like Pitchford Hall in Shropshire, gatehouses in Stanway, Gloucestershire and castles such as Broughton Castle, Oxon. Many of the houses have been lived in and have been owned by the same family for generations. The author also wrote "Private Palaces".